R 312121Z JAN 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 004/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/1ST MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, IT IS MY HONOR TO
CONGRATULATE OUR CORPS' HIGHLY DECORATED 1ST MARINE DIVISION ON THE
64TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ACTIVATION. MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE
DIVISION HAVE AMASSED AN UNPARALLELED LEGACY OF COURAGE AND
DETERMINATION SINCE 1941. IN PLACES SUCH AS GUADALCANAL, PELELIU,
OKINAWA, INCHON, THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, HUE CITY, AND NOW ON THE
CURRENT BATTLEFIELDS OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, THE DEDICATED
MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION HAVE EARNED THE HIGHEST HONORS FOR THEIR
VALOR, BATTLEFIELD PROWESS, AND ESPRIT.
2. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE DIVISION HAS STEADFASTLY
DISPLAYED FLEXIBILITY, A SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND WARFIGHTING
EXCELLENCE ON A COMPLEX AND EVER CHANGING BATTLEFIELD. BY DEFEATING
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF SUDDAM HUSSEIN'S ARMED FORCES WITH UNPRECEDENTED
SPEED AND THEN SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONING TO THE CHALLENGES OF
STABILITY AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS, THE DIVISION SHOWED FRIEND AND FOE
ALIKE THAT THERE IS TRULY NO BETTER FRIEND, NOR A WORSE ENEMY THAN
THE MARINES OF "THE OLD BREED." YOUR COURAGE UNDER FIRE AND
SELFLESS SACRIFICE ARE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ALL AMERICANS.
3. TODAY, AS MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE DIVISION ARE ENGAGED IN OR
PREPARING FOR OPERATIONS TO SECURE OUR NATION AND ADVANCE FREEDOM IN
THE WORLD - TAKE TIME TO MARK YOUR ORGANIZATION'S RICH HERITAGE AND
PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE PRECEDED YOU. KNOW THAT AS YOU CARRY
OUT YOUR VITAL MISSION, THAT MARINES
AROUND THE GLOBE HONOR YOUR SERVICE AND WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.
YOU ARE TRULY THE "FIRST TO FIGHT." SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP
ATTACKING! M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF
THE MARINE CORPS.//